231 Second Avenue
Skagway, AK
(800) 343-7373
White Pass Railroad website
- Hours: Open May through September
- Reservations: Recommended and must be made 24 hours in advance
- Cost: Varies by trip
- Location: Skagway, Alaska
- How Long: From 3 to 8.5 hours
- Best Time to Visit: Any time they're running
White Pass Railroad Review
Its official name is the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad (WPYRR), but most people just call it the White Pass Railroad. Built in 1898 to carry gold-seekers to the Klondike Gold Rush, this International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark earns its keep today as a tourist excursion line.White Pass Railroad Review
Even the best story-teller would be hard-pressed to accurately convey the White Pass Railroad experience. Rising almost 3,000 feet from sea level to the White Pass summit in just 20 miles, the narrow-guage tracks twist and turn, hugging the granite cliffs above the Yukon River. In any weather, views are panoramic.Photographers will especially enjoy this trip. You can get outside the cars (at your own risk) and take your shots without worrying about reflections on the glass inside. You'll get the best views from the front of your car, but if it's raining, the back will be drier. Get outside as soon as you're allowed to stake out your spot for the best photos, and take plenty of film or digital media: a busy photographer could easily click off 100 or more shots along the way.
White Pass Railroad Tours
Some White Pass Railroad trips go into British Columbia (Canada), and you may need to provide proof of citizenship. Be sure you know the requirements before you go. All trains are wheelchair accessible.Most visitors riding the White Pass Railroad as a shore excursion from a cruise ship. Regularly scheduled trips include:
- White Pass Summit Excursion: A three-hour, 40-mile round trip
- Sunday Steam Summit: A four-hour tour that goes past White Pass to Fraser Meadows
- Combination train and motorcoach trips between Skagway and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
- Lake Bennett Excusion: An 8 1/2 hour, 80-mile round trip to Bennett, British Columbia (end of the Chilkoot Trail) that includes a waling tour in Bennett and a box lunch.
- Hiker services to and from the Chilkoot Trail
Getting to White Pass Railroad
Most riders get to the White Pass Railroad from a cruise ship, and if you're traveling on one, the most convenient way to ride is to buy your tickets on board so you can get dockside pick up.Reservations made through the White Pass Railroad website depart from the depot, not the dock. If you're coming from town, take Spring Street or Broadway west toward the water to the station.
If You Liked the White Pass Railroad, You May Also Like:
- Durango-Silverton Railroad, Colorado
- Verde Canyon Railroad, Arizona
